Read Online Passionate Harvest by Nell Dixon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nell Dixon
Ads: Link
didn’t explain his attraction to Lucy. What he felt for her was earthier, more dangerous. Lucy had to work with him for twelve months to inherit her shares. A relationship with her was out of bounds. If her year went well and she sold shares to him then he could be accused of influencing her. If it went badly and Lucy felt she had no choice but to leave then he could lose both her and the vineyard.
He shortened Mutley’s leash as they approached the fishing lakes. It was no use, he had to try and keep things strictly business between him and Lucy until her twelve months was up. And that meant no more kisses.
* * *
Lucy muttered impolite curses under her breath as Dominic disappeared from view. She couldn’t decide if she was cross because he’d kissed her or cross because he’d stopped. For a moment she remained in the car still shaken by his sudden departure. The car park was almost full now and she wondered how Isabelle managed to cope on days like today.
Suddenly curious, she decided to pop into the café to get a couple of cakes to take home as a treat for tea. She scooped up her bag and made her way inside the tea room. There was a queue at the counter and a flustered looking teenager was busy attempting to clear tables so more people could be seated. Isabelle looked equally bothered attempting to take orders, money and prepare food all at the same time.
“Would you like a hand?” Lucy wriggled her way through the throng to the head of the queue to slip around the counter.
“Oh, Lucy! Um, can you work a till?” Isabelle asked.
“Yes, I’ve done all sorts of jobs before.”
Isabelle quickly showed her how the system worked and handed her an apron before vanishing into the kitchen to deal with the backlog of orders. Lucy soon found her rhythm and time fled by. She gave all the customers who’d been waiting for a while free tea and coffee top ups and, using all the skills she’d learned as a holiday rep, soon had even the grumpiest people looking happier.
She only became aware of how much her feet ached in her new sandals when the crowds finally died down.
“I can’t thank you enough for the last few hours, Lucy.” Isabelle emerged, rosy cheeked from the kitchen, having sent the teenage helper to have a lunch break.
“I couldn’t simply go and leave you. I wouldn’t be much of a co-owner if I did, would I?” Lucy smiled at Isabelle and accepted a mug of tea to sip.
Isabelle held a glass of juice and ice against her forehead. “I think today has been the first properly nice day of Spring since we’ve opened so I wasn’t expecting it to be this manic.”
“Well, I think we need to work out a way of getting you some more help on a weekend. I can see this getting busier as we have more nice days and with some extra help we can put additional tables outside.” Lucy wriggled her toes inside her sandals and wondered if she’d got a blister coming.
“Cheers, anyway. We couldn’t have coped without you today, that’s for sure.” Isabelle smiled as some new customers approached the counter to order tea and cakes.
“If you can manage I ought to get off home now. I’ll call in tomorrow to give you a hand if the weather is still as nice. Hopefully, we can get a solution sorted out by next weekend if it looks like we need more staff.”
“We’ll be fine now I think. Thanks again, Lucy,” Isabelle hesitated for a second as if she wasn’t sure she should say more, “You’re okay, you’ll fit right in here. Just watch out for Jo, she can be a bit, well awkward until you get to know her.” She bit her lip as if she’d said too much.
Lucy undid her apron and placed it down on the counter. “It’s okay. I’d gathered she wasn’t too pleased by my arrival. I’m sure we’ll work things out when we get to know one another better.”
She smiled at Isabelle and waved goodbye to the teenage helper before making her way outside into the late afternoon sunshine. Her sandals were
He shortened Mutley’s leash as they approached the fishing lakes. It was no use, he had to try and keep things strictly business between him and Lucy until her twelve months was up. And that meant no more kisses.
* * *
Lucy muttered impolite curses under her breath as Dominic disappeared from view. She couldn’t decide if she was cross because he’d kissed her or cross because he’d stopped. For a moment she remained in the car still shaken by his sudden departure. The car park was almost full now and she wondered how Isabelle managed to cope on days like today.
Suddenly curious, she decided to pop into the café to get a couple of cakes to take home as a treat for tea. She scooped up her bag and made her way inside the tea room. There was a queue at the counter and a flustered looking teenager was busy attempting to clear tables so more people could be seated. Isabelle looked equally bothered attempting to take orders, money and prepare food all at the same time.
“Would you like a hand?” Lucy wriggled her way through the throng to the head of the queue to slip around the counter.
“Oh, Lucy! Um, can you work a till?” Isabelle asked.
“Yes, I’ve done all sorts of jobs before.”
Isabelle quickly showed her how the system worked and handed her an apron before vanishing into the kitchen to deal with the backlog of orders. Lucy soon found her rhythm and time fled by. She gave all the customers who’d been waiting for a while free tea and coffee top ups and, using all the skills she’d learned as a holiday rep, soon had even the grumpiest people looking happier.
She only became aware of how much her feet ached in her new sandals when the crowds finally died down.
“I can’t thank you enough for the last few hours, Lucy.” Isabelle emerged, rosy cheeked from the kitchen, having sent the teenage helper to have a lunch break.
“I couldn’t simply go and leave you. I wouldn’t be much of a co-owner if I did, would I?” Lucy smiled at Isabelle and accepted a mug of tea to sip.
Isabelle held a glass of juice and ice against her forehead. “I think today has been the first properly nice day of Spring since we’ve opened so I wasn’t expecting it to be this manic.”
“Well, I think we need to work out a way of getting you some more help on a weekend. I can see this getting busier as we have more nice days and with some extra help we can put additional tables outside.” Lucy wriggled her toes inside her sandals and wondered if she’d got a blister coming.
“Cheers, anyway. We couldn’t have coped without you today, that’s for sure.” Isabelle smiled as some new customers approached the counter to order tea and cakes.
“If you can manage I ought to get off home now. I’ll call in tomorrow to give you a hand if the weather is still as nice. Hopefully, we can get a solution sorted out by next weekend if it looks like we need more staff.”
“We’ll be fine now I think. Thanks again, Lucy,” Isabelle hesitated for a second as if she wasn’t sure she should say more, “You’re okay, you’ll fit right in here. Just watch out for Jo, she can be a bit, well awkward until you get to know her.” She bit her lip as if she’d said too much.
Lucy undid her apron and placed it down on the counter. “It’s okay. I’d gathered she wasn’t too pleased by my arrival. I’m sure we’ll work things out when we get to know one another better.”
She smiled at Isabelle and waved goodbye to the teenage helper before making her way outside into the late afternoon sunshine. Her sandals were
Similar Books
